@ Chris B: So, an organization that claims to adhere to Christian values is
honoring those Christian values by respecting others, and you don't think
they should because you like the fact that they have Christian values?

How does that even pretend to make sense?

Personally, I think it is
awesome that Hobby Lobby is acting so Christlike and by being loving and
inclusive.

The owner of HL who had a net worth of 5 Billion at the end of 2012 fought the
Government regarding Obamacare on the premise it went against his Christian
Values because the plan provided contraception. Apparently he feels we need more
single parent children than we already have. Good for him!

HL seems
to only remember their "Christian Values" when it's convenient.
When David Greene was asked what he would do if Obamacare was not held off
another year his response was he would cut the hours of all of his employees to
under 30 so he would not have to pay for their Health Care. If this kind of
action is what it takes to be a "Christian" than I think I would rather
be an atheist.

The bottom line is, HL cares far more about their
pocketbooks then they do their salvation. My wife has spent between $500.00 -
$1,500.00 a year at Hobby Lobby for the past 5 years. Since the Billionaire
Mr.Greene made his statement regarding the care of his employees my wife, myself
and our extended families have not darkened HL's doorway nor will we ever
again.

RE: JoeBlow, “This is called the free market at work. How can any
"capitalist" deride this process? True,

Deseret Books should
sell Christians items as well. I.e.. The #1 selling NIV Bible. Bible study
helps like the Greek N.T. and the Greek LXX Vines concordances or Thayer’s
Lexicon(Greek to English Dictionary). And for serious Bible study
Critical apparatuses for lower criticism. Now you have to go to a Christian
bookstore to buy these items.

If I owned a craft or hobby store, I would be honored to carry Jewish-related
items. Judaism is the harginger of Christianity. Hebrew history and scriptures
point to the coming of the Messiah and His mission: the commandment to Abraham
to sacrifice his firstborn; the betrayal of Joseph by one of his 12 brothers for
20 pieces of silver; the slaughter of Hebrew babies in Egypt; the Passover and
the sacrificial lamb and passing through the water; the martyrdom of prophets.
What I believe as a Christian is inseparably connected with Judaism.

But I also believe a business should be able to choose its merchandise unless
there is clear and unmistakable discrimination and bigotry involved. If a Hobby
Lobby clerk actually said what was quoted, it's unfortunate, but did the
store owner actually discriminate?

Will we force a Jewish merchant to
sell Christian items, or a Christian to sell Muslim goods? How long before a
merchant with strong religious principles is compelled to carry atheist
literature, or those of us who support traditional marriage have to sell books,
movies, or merchandise advocating or glorifying things that we believe offend
God?

Sure, stores can carry whatever merchandise they choose. What was unkind and
un-Christian was the response, "we don't cater to you people." A
better response would've been to simply say, "sorry, we don't
carry Hanakkuh things."

But it also seems like a stupid
business decision considering New Jersey is #2 for the highest Jewish population
in the U.S., and neighboring NY is #1.

Do you think that Deseret Books would have
ideological objections to selling such items? Are you implying that LDS beliefs
are somehow non-Christian?

@Californian --

"Will we
force a Jewish merchant to sell Christian items, or a Christian to sell Muslim
goods?"

In this case, nobody forced anyone to do anything. This
was the free market at work, all the way.

Hoby Lobby's problems
would go away if the CEO would just rename it "Crafts for Conservative
Christians" (they could even be cute and spell the words with Ks), so folks
of other persuasions wouldn't get confused or expect service there.

RE: Contrariuserer, Do you think that Deseret Books would have ideological
objections to selling such items?(Acts 17:11 NIV) the Berean Jews were of
more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message
with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what[the
Apostle] Paul said was true.

(2 Timothy 2:15) Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth. I.e..In (D&C 84: 11-13) JS said he saw Esaias S/B
Isaiah. Modern translation have Isaiah instead of Esaias to avoid the
confusion, see (Romans 9:27,29 NIV).

LDS beliefs are somehow
non-Christian?Manhattan statement We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and
Evangelical Christians, have gathered, beginning in New York on September 28,
2009, to make the following declaration, which we sign as individuals, not on
behalf of our organizations, but s peaking to and from our communities. We act
together in obedience to the one true God,“the triune God”.[The
”PALE” of Christianity believes in the Triune God].

@ donn: Deseret Book by its very name proclaims that it sells items
specifically related to Mormonism. Nothing in the name of Hobby Lobby proclaims
they only carry items for certain religious groups.

Hobby Lobby is
more than welcome to sell what they want - some people stated, perhaps not in
the most polite manner possible but it was still a statement, that they enjoy
shopping at Hobby Lobby and would enjoy said experience even more if they were
able to buy products for hobbies related to all the holidays they observe. If
Hobby Lobby does not carry the items consumers want, consumers will seek those
items elsewhere.

Very basic market philosophies and practices.

People who want religious items not related to Mormonism do not shop at
Deseret Book. Deseret Book made the decision to not cater to those needs and
not have those customers.

Hobby Lobby decided it wants those
customers for their year round business and is willing to sell them the items
they want.

One staffer said it. It wasn't a policy of the company. They may not have
known there was demand for such products. Christians commercialize Christmas.
Jewish holidays tend to be more faith promoting, not crafty.

I went
in one store looking for a first communion card. The staff had no idea if they
carried them, not a nonCatholic thing. I did find two in the entire card
section. They were a bit different than other communion cards I have ever seen
but they had the words first communion so I bought one.

Comments railing on HL because of what they carry/don't carry, about being
"hypocritical" with their stance on Obamacare (hey Sid 6.7--like most
businesses, they can't afford Obamacare and continue with current
employee's hours). This was an unfortunate incident involving one employee,
who hopefully has been properly disciplined and trained by now.

Kudos
to Berwitz and Green for pleasantly working things out. Kudos to Yair Rosenberg
and the The Anti-Defamation League for putting this into perspective and seeing
things from HL's point of view and being reasonable. This is what real
civil discourse is all about, not about people getting all bent out of shape and
judgmental. Berwitz, Green, Rosenberg, & the ADL: refreshing, thank you.

@ChrisB: First of all, I'm not sure what "liberals demands" have
to do with any of this since we know nothing of the political bent of those who
asked the store to reconsider its policies regarding craft items related to
Jewish holidays. It looks a lot more like consumers asking local stores to carry
merchandise that they'd like to buy. When you say, "I love what Hobby
Lobby stands for and I don't even like crafting.", what, exactly, is it
that you think they "stand for"? They're a business, and they
exist to make money. And stores make money by catering to the needs of their
customers; not by trying to make political hash of customer requests. As one of
Utah County's few token Jews, I have no illusions that I'll now find
Chanukkah candles or anything else Jewish in the American Fork store, but I
wouldn't expect it since it would be a poor marketing decision on their
part. They're gonna carry what sells in reasonable quantities.